Champion Chase Trends for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival

By James Stoddart

Mar 2nd, 2026 12:34 PM EST

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2026 Cheltenham Champion Chase Trends

One of the highlights of the Cheltenham Festival every year, the Queen Mother Champion Chase is one that often follows trends closely. Check out everything you need to know about the race before getting involved at UK betting apps.

The last 10 winners:

• Were aged up to 10 years old (last eight winners no older than 9).
• Last ran at least 32 days ago.

Nine of the last 10 winners:

• Had run at least twice at Cheltenham before, five of which were previous winners here. Only Energumene before his 2022 win had never run at the track.
• Had six or more starts over fences and at least five wins (Marine Nationale).
• Were trained in Britain or by Henry De Bromhead or Willie Mullins (Marine Nationale).
• Had won at least one Grade 1 (Captain Guinness).
• Had two or more starts that season (Altior in 2018)

Eight of the last 10 winners:

• Finished in the top three in their last race (Politologue and Special Tiara). The six most recent winners didn't win.
• Had won one of their last three starts (Politologue & Marine Nationale).
• Had won that season (Politologue & Marine Nationale).
• Had won two or more Grade 1s (Put The Kettle On, Captain Guinness).

Seven of the last 10 winners:

• Had their last run before Cheltenham in Britain (Put The Kettle On, Captain Guinness & Marine Nationale).

Last 10 Champion Chase Winners

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Key Trials Of The Last 10 Years

Four of the last 10 winners ran last time out in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot, with two-time champion Energumene doing so but failing to win at Ascot both times before going on to win at Cheltenham. Two Champion Chase winners have won that race prior to Cheltenham victory. 2026's winner Jonbon will likely be popular picks for people with Cheltenham free bets, if he runs here.

Altior, who romped home in 2018, won the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Fox Norton and Module were also winners of that race before they placed in the Cheltenham Champion Chase. Lulamba won this year and is now a short-price favourite for the Arkle.

The Arkle Novices' Chase looks an obvious pointer towards future Champion Chase victory, but there's been a trend lately of that race's winner graduating instead to the Ryanair Chase. Having said that, if they take part they often win.

The winners of the 2012, 2017 and 2020 Arkles won the following year's Champion Chase. El Fabiolo attempted to add to that list after winning the Arkle in 2023 but failed to capture the Champion Chase crown. 2025 winner Jango Baie is going to contest the Gold Cup.

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Trainer Trends

• Nicky Henderson boasts a phenomenal record in this race with a 42% strike rate - five winners from 12 runners in the last 13 years - but has entered the race just three times since 2019.
• Paul Nicholls, along with Henderson and Tom Dreaper, is the most successful trainer with six wins in this race. Politologue in 2020 was his most recent victory, but he's managed just a third and two fourths since.
• Henry De Bromhead has saddled three winners from 15 runners in the last 11 renewals, including two of the last four and 2024's winner Captain Guinness.
• Willie Mullins won it in consecutive years with Energumene but didn't have a finisher last year. He did have the runner up in 2024 as Gentleman De Mee finished behind Captain Guinness.

Jockey Trends

• Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the race in 2024, bettering her third in 2022 and second in 2023. However, she has since retired so has a watching brief this year.
• Paul Townend won it twice aboard Energumene but hasn't finished the race since, pulling up in both renewals.
• Nico De Boinville is the most successful jockey over the last 10 years with three wins to his name, although his last victory was in 2019.

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How Did The Trends Do Last Year?

Marine Nationale bucked quite a few trends as a 5/1 winner of the race last year, which was actually his first career Grade 1 over fences. His form coming into the race didn't suggest he would be a winner on trends, as he hadn't won a race in his last three starts (or indeed even in that season), hadn't made six career starts over fences and didn't run in Britain last time out.

He came into the race off the back of uninspiring form reading 232, with that second coming in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown. Although the last six winners of the race haven't won last time out, you feel that is a quirk rather than a trend to be followed.

2025 Champion Chase Result

Who Fits The Trends Best In 2026?

All the trends again point towards Jonbon claiming victory at Cheltenham Festival for the first time. The 10-year-old has won each of his last two starts, and his last outing was a comprehensive win in the Betfair Chase at Ascot. However, he is a big price for the race as he will likely contest the Ryanair instead. He shouldn't be ignored for those looking to punt on UK betting sites if Nicky Henderson does decide to run him here.

The two horses at the head of the betting highlight how tricky this race has become for punters in recent years. The fact that neither of them have recorded five chase wins shows how inconsistent they both are. Majborough has an impressive win last time out to his name, but his jumping has a tendency to let him down, as it did at the Festival last year and at Cork earlier in the season.

Marine Nationale could further extend the run of horses who were beaten last time out winning this as he does seem to come alive at Cheltenham and has won both his starts at the track. A nine-year-old still not having registered five chase wins is a worry, and a 33% strike rate over fences doesn't scream Champion Chaser either.

Champion Chase 2026 Odds

Cheltenham Festival 2026 Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day One Trends

• Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Arkle Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Trends
• Ultima Handicap Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Hurdle Trends
• Cheltenham Festival Plate Handicap Trends
• National Hunt Novices' Chase Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day Two Trends

• Turners Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Trends
• Coral Cup Trends
• Cheltenham Cross Country Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Chase Trends
• Grand Annual Chase Trends
• Cheltenham Champion Bumper Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day Three Trends

• Cheltenham Mares' Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
• Cheltenham Mares' Hurdle Trends
• Stayers' Hurdle Trends
• Ryanair Chase Trends
• Pertemps Final Trends
• Kim Muir Handicap Chase Trends

Cheltenham Festival Day Four Trends

• Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Trends
• Triumph Hurdle Trends
• County Hurdle Trends
• Mares' Chase Trends
• Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Trends
• Cheltenham Gold Cup Trends
• Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase Trends

About the Author

James Stoddart

More About James

Born in Liverpool, James is an LFC fan and season ticket holder. He's got an interest in playing and watching most sports including golf, darts, football and horse racing. As a keen punter, he's always on the lookout for value and loves spotting something at a big price that fits the trends. He applies this to online casino too, and is always looking to beat the house.

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